Utah coach Kyle Whittingham looks towards the scoreboard during a timeout in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon in Eugene, Ore., on Nov. 16, 2013. (Associated Press file)

Kyle Whittingham is not under fire. Not yet, anyway.

Utah’s coach has had a rough transition from the Mountain West to the Pac-12. The Utes went 33-6 in the three seasons before joining the Pac-12 and have gone 17-17 since. That includes 8-18 in league. Their 4-7 record entering Saturday’s noon game against Colorado marks their first back-to-back losing seasons since 1989-90.

Since shocking Alabama in the 2009 Sugar bowl, Utah is 3-10 against ranked teams and 14-20 against teams from the six power conferences.

BOULDER — California fired coach Jeff Tedford Tuesday morning, leaving him available for Colorado to lure over as offensive coordinator.

University sources say he’s on their radar and he’d be a good choice. It appears that the Buffaloes will switch to the spread offense next year. Second-year coach Jon Embree got tired of watching spread teams in the Pac-12 run over his defense and acknowledged he’s looking for more versatility in the quarterback position.

Tedford employed multiple offense at Cal. That was part of the problem. However, he used the spread numerous times and with his reputation as a developer of quarterbacks, he’d be an attractive candidate.

How quarterback Jordan Webb led Colorado back from 17 points down to beat Washington State Saturday is the reason he won the position battle in fall camp, coach Jon Embree said.

“That’s one of the reasons we picked him for the job,” Embree said on Tuesday’s Pac-12 Conference call. “In competitive situations he seems to raise up and do things. Some of the struggles have been being on the same page with his receivers and his protection. It hasn’t always been him.

“He never doubted himself. He never really doubted his teammates. You could tell by how he was practicing. You could tell by how he was carrying himself through these games at different times. He’s a great leader. He has a lot of intangibles you look for at that position.”

Utah — Quarterback Jordan Wynn leaves game with no regrets after injury that likely require a fourth surgery on his shoulders. A fourth-year junior, he had a 14-7 record and stands eighth on the school’s career passing list with 4,637 yards on 60-percent passing. His departure puts the job up between senior Jon Hays, Wynn’s replacement last year, and ballyhooed true freshman Travis Wilson: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/utes/54873974-89/wynn-utah-football-career.html.csp?page=1.

Arizona State — Arizona Republic columnist Dan Bickley on Deantre Lewis’ move from tailback to defense almost two years after getting shot by a random bullet in Riverside, Calif: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu/articles/20120911football-player-deantre-lewis-selfless-act-arizona-state-isnt-all-sacrifice-its-chance-heal.html.

Arizona — John Bonano bounces back with three field goals against Oklahoma State after missing two against Toledo: http://azstarnet.com/sports/football/college/wildcats/arizona-football-john-bonano-s-big-rebound/article_1594680b-80ee-5fea-9706-43582cf4cb16.html.

UCLA — Houston is 0-2 but quarterback Dave Piland picking up where he left off in 2010 heading into Saturday’s UCLA game: http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/football/la-sp-piland-houston-ucla-20120912,0,6432903.story.

USC — It’s the last chance for many Trojans to beat Stanford: http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-0912-usc-football-20120912,0,145973.story.

California — Golden Bears seek tough bounce back at No. 12 Ohio State which has won 59 straight non-conference home games against unranked teams: http://www.insidebayarea.com/cal-bears/ci_21517243/cal-loses-offensive-lineman-matt-summers-gavin-ohio.

Oregon — Backups ready to fill in for All-American safety John Boyett and guard Carson York, both out for the year with knee injuries: http://www.registerguard.com/web/sports/28731085-41/boyett-patterson-safety-jackson-oregon.html.csp.

Washington — Seattle Times’ Bob Condotta blogs a poll question: Are you more concerned about season after blowout loss at LSU?: http://seattletimes.com/html/huskyfootballblog/2019127297_tonights_poll_—_are_you_more.html.

Washington State — Safety Deone Bucannon suspended for first half of Friday’s UNLV game for late hit to head on Eastern Washington receiver Greg Herd who suffered a concussion: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/sep/11/pac-12-suspends-wsus-bucannon-one-half/.

Utah quarterback Jordan Wynn decided Monday to quit football after another shoulder injury will likely mean a fourth surgery. However, that doesn’t mean Colorado fans have hope for a victory this season. Hey, look at the Buffaloes’ remaining schedule and find a more winnable game than Utah, at home, in the regular season finale without the Utes’ starting quarterback.

Stepping into the junior’s place is one highly experienced quarterback and one of the hottest prospects to step on Utah’s campus in years. Senior Jon Jays started nine games last year and threw for 1,459 yards on .561 passing with 12 touchdown passes and eight interceptions. He went 6-3 as a starter, including the Sun Bowl win over Georgia Tech. However, one of his blemishes was the home loss to a Colorado team that hadn’t won out of state in 24 games.

Coach Kyle Whittingham won’t hesitate to play true freshman Travis Wilson. Rivals.com ranked him the No. 11 quarterback in the country last year after he threw for 2,289 yards and 24 touchdowns for San Clemente (Calif.) High. In Utah’s first two games, he’s 3-for-3 for 49 yards and a touchdown.

Hays didn’t look good in replacing Wilson at Utah State where the Utes lost in overtime. He was 12-of-26 for 154 yards and Whittingham says he’ll compete with Wilson for the starting nod against BYU.

Colorado has to look for something tangible as this apparently dreadful year drones on. Its games against the Pac-12’s rebuilding — Washington State and Arizona — are on the road and UCLA’s win over Nebraska showed the Bruins will likely be double-digit favorites when they visit Sept. 29.

Frankly, unless Colorado’s young talent matures, like, tomorrow, I don’t see another winnable game until Utah comes in for revenge Nov. 23.

Utah: Jon Hays is expected to start at quarterback against BYU. Injured Jordan Wynn questionable after three sacks in 27-20 overtime loss at Utah State. Coach Kyle Whittingham hinting about changes on the offensive line: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/utes/54860506-89/utah-utes-byu-wynn.html.csp.

Arizona — Cornerback Jonathan McKnight’s 48-yard pick six was one of four turnovers sparking Wildcats’ upset of Oklahoma State: http://azstarnet.com/sports/football/college/wildcats/arizona-football-interception-makes-wildcats-mcknight/article_c1135f9e-2d7b-5dde-8076-5ba33c250685.html.

Arizona State — New ASU offense seventh nationally in scoring (54 ppg), third in pass efficiency and averaging 7.7 yards per game. Caution: The two wins were over Northern Arizona, an FCS team, and an Illinois team missing star quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase: http://www.azcentral.com/sports/asu/articles/20120909arizona-states-offense-clicking-all-cylinders.html.

USC — Coach Lane Kiffin unconcerned about drop from No. 2 to No. 3 in coaches’ poll after a second straight win. It remained No. 2 in AP poll: http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-usc-football-20120910,0,5416547.story.

California — Golden Bears’ 50-31 win over Southern Utah not encouraging after leading FCS school only 20-17 in fourth quarter and committing two turnovers and 10 penalties in first half: http://www.insidebayarea.com/cal-bears/ci_21498949/cal-overcames-early-mistakes-beat-southern-utah.

Oregon — Young offense reason for inconsistencies with 85 points in two first halves and 14 in two second halves: http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2012/09/ducks_insider_youth_on_oregons.html.

Oregon State — Beavers (1-0) gain confidence with upset of Wisconsin but how long can it last with bye this weekend?: http://www.oregonlive.com/beavers/index.ssf/2012/09/beavers_insider_which_comes_fi.html.

Washington State — Quarterback Jeff Tuel has leg injury and may give way to sophomore Connor Halliday at UNLV: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/sep/09/cougars-prepare-unlv-not-knowing-tuels-status/.

The NFL hasn’t drafted a UCLA quarterback in 13 years. A lack of competition and injuries are reasons but this is the same school that produced the likes of Bob Waterfield, Gary Beban, and Troy Aikman.

In advance of next week’s Pac-12 football media day in Los Angeles, here’s a look at the number of returning starters for each team, from most experienced to least. Utah leads with 16 returnees, one more than USC. Last year’s overall and conference records are included:

Quarterback Jordan Wynn is out for the year and JC-transfer Jon Hays is struggling behind an embattled offensive line without enough depth to make changes. His receivers have done little and backup Tyler Shreve isn’t ready to replace Hays.

The defense has been decent but injuries are starting to bite into it. Utah hosts Oregon State Saturday.

Hansen said Stoops was nearly invisible to the community, not to mention the media, and based everything on wins and losses instead of family, as his more successful brother, Bob Stoops, has done at Oklahoma.

Hansen doesn’t mention Stoops’ volcanic explosions on the sideline toward his assistants and players but that grated at Byrne who took the job in 2010. Still, mostly it comes down to wins and losses. Stoops was 41-50 in 7-plus seasons, including 27-38 in conference.

He did return Arizona to a bowl game after a 10-year drought but it has been blown out in its last two.

It must’ve been painful for Stoops. After the last straw, a loss to previously winless Oregon State Saturday, Byrne called Stoops Monday morning in San Diego where he’s recruiting during this bye week. He was told to hop the school’s private jet and return to Tucson. Immediately. He was fired that afternoon.

The Huskies get a chance to heal as prize quarterback Keith Price has suffered sprains to both knees and slightly sprained his ankle in the easy win at Utah. He’ll rest this week while backup Nick Montana gets more reps.

Washington is one of the league’s most improved teams since Week 1 when it had to eek out a victory over FCS Eastern Washington. At 4-1 and with upcoming games against Colorado and Arizona at home, at Oregon State and Washington State at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, Washington should win at least eight games for the first time since 2001.

Ta’amu set the tone in the Holiday Bowl when he recovered a fumble on Nebraska’s first series then later forced a holding call for a safety. However, he has been slowed by a broken bone in his right hand.

He’s a potential first-round draft pick and a great test for Nebraska’s struggling run game. The Cornhuskers are 24th nationally at 224 yards per game but many are from quarterback Taylor Martinez’s scrambles outside. Nebraska starts a true freshman at tackle and two sophomore guards.

Being a long-time BCS basher, I won’t lose any wince if the Utes live up to their hype. They always passed my eye test and I didn’t hold the bottom-heavy Mountain West against them. But we’ll find out soon enough.

Never mind the usual hype of the year/decade/century/millennium. Saturday’s TCU-Utah game matching Mountain West unbeatens is bigger than that.

ESPN GameDay will be in Salt Lake City, making the big event simply huge — and then some.

It is so big, make that enormous, that after the showdown between TCU and Utah (third and fifth in the BCS standings), these teams will never see each other again in a regular season league contest.

“It’s too bad it’s all going to be over here,” said TCU coach Gary Patterson of Utah’s departure to the Pac-12. “This is going to be a great Saturday it’s what football is all about.”

The implications are mind-boggling. If the winner remains unbeaten and ranks in the final BCS standings ahead of Boise State and if Oregon moves on to the national championship game, then Saturday’s MWC winner stands a good chance of landing in the Rose Bowl. That’s not bad for a league which originally sent its champ to the Liberty Bowl.

If the stars really align and the winner inches up into the BCS top two and the national championship game, someone should have the cardiac unit ready to revive MWC commissioner Craig Thompson.

“You have to win this ball game before you can think about (the BCS implications)” Patterson said. “If you don’t win this ball game, that part’s out.”

Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, sticking to his vow of not discussing the PAC-12 move until this season is over, didn’t mention any nostalgia. He just talked about how many players on both sides had been in the series since the 2008 game. Unless one unwinds early on turnovers like the Utes uncharacteristically did a year ago in the 55-28 lost in Fort Worth, Whittingham expects the game to hinge on just a few key plays.

There are two key differences. The game is at Rice-Eccles Stadium. TCU’s starting quarterback Andy Dalton is a seasoned senior. Utah’s Jordan Wynn is a sophomore who had just moved into the starting lineup when the teams met a year ago.

The other coaches stayed away from the handicapping game.

“They’re both very, very good,” said AFA coach Troy Calhoun. “Both have guys on those respective units that are going to play beyond college.”

In place of Californian Tyler Shreve who opted instead for Utah, CSU picked up another three-star commitment, Garrett Grayson, ranked the 16th best player in Washington by rivals.com.

Last year Utah picked off Jordan Wynn who originally committed to Colorado. Wynn moved into the starting lineup midway through his freshman year.

There was one school of thought Shreve would never make it to Fort Collins if he signed a baseball contract in the spring.

There’s no question Shreve physically could excel in two sports at the collegiate level. Utah, unlike CSU, has a baseball program, but doubling up is a rarity, especially for a quarterback. He pitched in the Aflac All-America High School Baseball Classic at San Diego’s PETCO Park last summer.

Shreve ranked 20th on the rivals.com list of pro-style quarterbacks. Utah already had a QB commitment in the dual threat mold that fits the Utes’ spread style.

Depending on how four-star quarterback Pete Thomas does in spring ball, Grayson, a dual threat quarterback, may not start his eligibility clock until next January as a grayshirt.

Just got off the phone with Colorado State’s newest recruit, Pete Thomas, the 19th ranked pro-style quarterback in the nation.

Sounds like Rams fans will have a reason to show for the spring game or practice or whatever format it takes this April. Thomas will enroll the middle of next month. As of last week, he told the rivals.com Arizona State offshoot he was going to Tempe, but had reservations about an offenisve staff shake-up on the Sun Devils staff.

Nearly every recruit I’ve even spoken to has been pumped up when he makes his announcement. He was fresh off his recruiting trip as the guest of honor in Fort Collins as the only prospect last weekend. He already has a friend on the team, redshirt freshman tight end Cameron Moss.

The 6-5, 220-pound quarterback from El Cajon Valhalla High School near San Diego drew four stars on both rivals.com and scout.com. CSU hasn’t had a four-star straight out of high school since fullback Tristan Walker in 2002. Although he was a contributor as a blocking back his senior year, injuries and weight issues prevented Walker from reaching his potential.

Thomas is the only four-star on either Colorado or Colorado State lists.

“They (CSU coaches) said I’d have a really good opportunity to play early,” Thomas said. “You can’t find a better profile and a better than coach (Steve) Fairchild and coach (Daren) Wilkinson to develop a quarterback and get you to that next level, which is the ultimate goal.”

He had initial contact from nearly every Pac-10 school and took earlier recruiting trips to Boston College and Maryland but couldn’t envision himself so far from home. An added bonus for CSU is playing in San Diego every other year.

Most of all, Thomas said he knows he has to earn his playing time. By coming in early, he’ll have the advantage of learning the offense in spring ball and putting on some more weight in the conditioning program.

Thomas’ stock rose this summer when he was rated third among quarterbacks in a national 7-on-7 tournament held in Florida.

“My thing is sitting the pocket,” he said. “I have decent mobility. I ran for 150 yards and six touchdowns (during his senior year). One of my big strengths is moving in the pocket. I’m not going to break a touchdown run 80 yards.”

Although last year’s junior college transfer Jon Eastman will probably take the first snap in spring practice, the depth chart is wide open for someone to step in. Thomas said he was aware there were two freshman quarterback starters in the Mountain West, Utah’s Jordan Wynn and Wyoming Austyn-Carter Samuels.

Thomas is CSU’s 20th commitment, which could complete the class before Christmas. There’s always a chance the Rams could lose a player of its list as well as more scholarships opening up through academics or medical issues.

Also, don’t be surprised if some additional names fall into place as grayshirt candidates who won’t start their careers until January, 2011.

Kensler joined The Denver Post in 1989 and has covered a variety of beats, including Colorado, Colorado State, golf, Olympics and the Denver Broncos. His brush with greatness: losing in a two-on-two pickup basketball game at Ohio State against two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin.

Terry Frei graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in the Denver area and has degrees in history and journalism from the University of Colorado-Boulder. He worked for the Rocky Mountain News while attending CU and joined the Post staff after graduation. He has also worked at the Oregonian in Portland, Ore., and The Sporting News. His seventh book, March 1939: Before the Madness, was issued in February 2014.